2025 PhD Candidates
Author(s)
GSSW
Communication Team
Graduating University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work PhD candidates are ready to put their doctoral training to work as teachers and scholars who advance social work knowledge and social justice.
Carson De Fries, MSW
Doctoral candidate Carson De Fries is a macro social worker focused on addressing social isolation among the older adult population through community-level interventions focused on intergenerational relationships. Her dissertation employs a social network analysis of older adults’ closest relationships and communities to offer guidance on how to create more age-friendly, cohesive and supportive communities. As a gerontological social worker, Carson is passionate about encouraging students to explore aging social work careers, challenge their own beliefs on what it means to grow older, and develop their engagement skills with individuals across the lifespan. Carson holds a BA in psychology from the University of Kansas and an MSW with a concentration in Aging Services and Policy from the University of Denver.
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Research Interests/Areas of Emphasis
- Aging/gerontology
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Intergenerational justice and relationships
- Minority aging issues
- Macro social work
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Dissertation
Understanding Intergenerational Relationships: An Egocentric Social Network Analysis of Older Adults
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Select Grants, Fellowships & Awards
- University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work Outstanding Dissertation Proposal Award, 2024
- University of Denver Graduate Education Doctoral Fellowship for Inclusive Engagement, 2022—2024
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging Doctoral Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Scholar, 2023
- Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work Pre-Dissertation Fellowship, 2021—2022
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Select Presentations
- De Fries, C. M., Wang, K., & Hasche, L. (2024, November). Understanding the role of social capital in formal service use among older adults: A scoping review [Paper accepted for presentation]. Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting, Seattle, WA.
- Leedahl, S., Juris, J., De Fries, C. M., & Marks, L. (2023, July). How to build community/university partnerships towards research and evaluation [Workshop presentation]. Generations United Global Conference, Washington D.C.
- De Fries, C. M., Kohlbrenner, B., Collins, E., Hasche, L., Shah, P., Talamantes, M., & Wang, K. (2022, November). The Virtual Dementia Tour: Experiential learning for MSW students [Poster presentation]. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Anaheim, CA.
- De Fries, C. M., Steward, A., Fix, R., & Hasche, L. (2020, November). A process evaluation of cross-organizational intergenerational partnerships. In L. Hasche (Chair), Using implementation research to promote the expansion and sustainability of intergenerational programs [Symposium]. Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting, Online.
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Select Publications
- De Fries, C. M., Wang, K., & Hasche, L. (2024). Social capital as a bridge to services for community-dwelling older adults: A scoping review. Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver.
- Steward, A., De Fries, C. M., Dunbar, A. Z., Trujillo, M., Zhu, Y., & Hasche, L. (2024). A phenomenological understanding of the intersectionality of ageism and racism among older adults: Interpersonal experiences. Journal of Social Work. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173241253495
- Jarrott, S., Leedahl, S., Shovali, T., De Fries, C. M., DelPo, A., Estus, E., Ganji, C., Hasche, L., Juris, J., MacInness, R., Schilz, M., Scrivano, R., Steward, A., Taylor, C., & Walker, A. (2022). Intergenerational programming during the pandemic: Transformation during (constantly) changing times. Journal of Social Issues, 78(4), 1038—1065. http://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12530 (A journal Top 10 cited paper in 2022—2023)
- Gao, X., Wang, K., Sun, F., De Fries, C. M., Xu, F., Huang, P., & Feng, Y. (2022). Associates of perceived quality of life in Chinese older adults living with cognitive impairment. International Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 66(3), 368—380. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2022.2103865
Brendon T. Holloway, MSW
Doctoral candidate Brendon T. Holloway (he/they) uses community-engaged participatory methods to examine the health care needs and desires for trans and nonbinary communities. Brendon’s scholarship centers the health and well-being of trans and nonbinary individuals with specific focuses on health care access, mutual aid, health liberation and gender euphoria. His research is informed by his lived experience as a queer and trans person and six years of practice experience in health care settings. Brendon’s research seeks to disrupt conventional deficit-based narratives of trans and nonbinary people, painting a more holistic picture of who trans and nonbinary individuals are. Brendon holds a BSW from Middle Tennessee State University and an MSW from the University of Michigan.
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Research Interests/Areas of Emphasis
- LGBTQ+ health equity
- Trans and nonbinary health promotion
- Mutual aid practices
- Community-engaged and participatory mixed-methods
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Dissertation
The Embodiment and Experiences of Gender Euphoria among Transgender and Nonbinary Communities: A Mixed-Methods Inquiry
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Select Grants, Fellowships & Awards
- International Weight Stigma Conference, 2023 Best Poster Award: "It's so internalized, and it's so personal": A qualitative study exploring MSW students' experiences in a weight stigma course
- Council on Social Work Education, Council on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression, 2022 Paper of the Year Award: Transgender and nonbinary activism among social work students in the U.S.: The role of ally behavior and a critical orientation to social justice
- Graduate Education Dissertation Fellowship Award, Office of Graduate Education, University of Denver, $2,500
- Research subcontract, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (RFA-PS-11-001), $10,000
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Select Presentations
- Holloway, B. T., Walls, N. E., Kilby, M., & Doyle, M. (2024, October). Countering the narrative: Highlighting gender euphoria in trans/nonbinary communities through creative writing [Paper presentation]. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Kansas City, MO.
- Coye, S., Hunte, O. H., Holloway, B. T., & Bender, K. (2024, October). Pedagogy of care: Creating communities of care in the classroom [Panel presentation]. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Kansas City, MO.
- Call, J., & Holloway, B. T. (2024, January). Exploring relationships between mutual aid and accessing healthcare among transgender and nonbinary people [Paper presentation]. Society for Social Work & Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
- Blackwell, B., Holloway, B. T., Jean, Q., Matos, T., & Strus, G. (2022, October). Listen, learn, act: Conversations about equity, diversity, and inclusion related to gender identity [Panel presentation]. The Broadway League, New York, NY.
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Select Publications
- Holloway, B. T. (2023). Highlighting trans joy: A call to practitioners, researchers, and educators. Health Promotion Practice, 24(4), 612—614. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399231152468
- Holloway, B. T., Gerke, D. R., Call, J., Hostetter, C. R., Atteberry-Ash, B., Greenfield, J., & Walls, N. E. (2023). "The doctors have more questions for us": Geographic differences in healthcare access and health literacy among transgender and nonbinary individuals. Qualitative Social Work, 22(6), 1073—1091. https://doi.org/10.1177/14733250221128000
- Holloway, B. T., Hostetter, C. R., Morris, K., Kynn, J., & Kilby, M. (2023). "We are all we have": Envisioning the future of mutual aid from queer and trans perspectives. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 50(1), 155-180. https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.4693
- Holloway, B.T., Atteberry-Ash, B., Kattari, L., Harrop, E., & Walls, N.E. (2022). Transgender and nonbinary activism among social work students in the U.S.: The role of ally behavior and critical social justice. Journal of Community Practice, 30(2), 181—202. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2022.2072990
C. Riley Hostetter, MSW
C. Riley Hostetter (they/them) focuses on structural inequities in social service delivery and policy, centering the experiences of queer and transgender communities. Riley’s research investigates systemic inequities for queer and transgender young persons across foster care and homeless youth services, further exploring the impacts of gender and sexual identity on the mental health outcomes, trajectories and social networks of these youth. With a background working in child welfare, alongside conducting social justice and equity work, their practice experiences serve as groundwork for their research and teaching philosophies, bringing together a desire to better understand systems and ways to incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion. Riley further uses critical theories and analysis of historical roots and macro forces through their work. Riley has additional research experience and interest involving social determinants of health, social work history, mutual aid and community care, critical approaches to social work, and queer and trans community. Prior to their doctoral education, Riley worked for both governmental and nonprofit child welfare agencies, trained social service navigators and served on numerous diversity, equity and inclusion committees. Riley has an MSW from Portland State University, focusing on community-based practice and administrative leadership, and a BS in psychology and Spanish from Iowa State University.
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Research Interests/Areas of Emphasis
- Queer and trans community
- Foster care and child welfare
- Critical approaches to systems
- Homeless youth
- Social welfare policy
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Dissertation
- Exploring the Impact of Identity through Outcomes, Networks, and Ideals of Unhoused Queer and Transgender Former Foster Youth
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Select Grants, Fellowships & Awards
- University of Denver Graduate Education Doctoral Fellowship for Inclusive Engagement
- University of Denver Graduate Studies Doctoral Fellowship
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Select Presentations
- Hostetter, C. R., Pappas, G., Lenne, E., Spoth, A. P., Pitsker, J., & Anderson-Nathe, B. (2025, January 15—19). Think of the children: The state’s weaponization of transgender and nonbinary youth [Roundtable accepted for presentation]. Society for Social Work & Research Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.
- Seelman, K., & Hostetter, C. R. (2024, October 24—27). "Medicine for the soul": LGBTQIA+ Southerners spending time in nature during the pandemic [Paper presentation]. Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, Kansas City, MO.
- Hostetter, C. R., Littman, D. M., Holloway, B. T., Dunbar, A. Z., Bender, K., & Sarantakos, S. (2023, January 11—15). Conceptualizations of Mutual Aid During COVID-19: A Critical Analysis [Paper presentation]. Society for Social Work & Research Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
- Hostetter, C. R., & Philliber, A. (2021, October 23—27). Social connection, stability, and health among nonbinary people: The impact of COVID-19 [Paper presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
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Select Publications
- Hostetter, C. R., Gerke, D., Call, J., Holloway, B. T., Atteberry-Ash, B., Greenfield, J., & Walls., N. E. (2021). “We are doing the absolute most that we can, and no one is listening”: Barriers and facilitators to health literacy within transgender and nonbinary communities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), Article 1229. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031229
- Holloway, B. T., Hostetter, C. R., Morris, K., Kynn, J., & Kilby, M. (2022). “We’re all we have”: The future of mutual aid from the perspectives of queer and trans individuals. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 50(1), 155—180. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol50/iss1/9
- Sonsteng-Person, M., Spoth, A. P., Hostetter, C. R., Akapnitis, I., Barbera, R., Joseph, A., Mackey, C., Garcia-Perez, J., & Hyde, C. (2023). A new world cannot be built alone: An abolitionist framework for collective action in social work. Abolitionist Perspectives in Social Work, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.52713/apsw.v1i1.18
- Christensen, C., Jeon, J. S., Hostetter, C. R., Doyle, M., & Kynn, J. (2023). Facilitators and barriers to sexual and gender minority youth development: Addressing accessibility and “isms”, building collaborations, and supporting mental health in community-based organizations. Children and Youth Services Review, 152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107079
Alex Ochs
Alex is a doctoral candidate with a research focus on health disparities and service engagement among marginalized youth, particularly those experiencing homelessness and affected by HIV. With nine years of practice experience in community mental health, health care settings, and private practice, Alex's professional background deeply informs both his research and teaching. In his research, Alex focuses on HIV and STI testing and prevention behaviors among youth experiencing homelessness, employing both egocentric social network analysis and qualitative methods. His work engages multiple theoretical perspectives to examine the socio-ecological context of HIV/STI service engagement and utilization. Importantly, Alex is committed to expanding his scholarship by building campus and community partnerships and pursuing external funding to further explore health care service access and utilization among vulnerable populations.
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Research interests/Areas of emphasis
Youth and young adults experiencing homelessness
Persons affected by HIV
HIV and STI prevention among marginalized communities
Egocentric social network analysis
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Dissertation title
HIV and STI Testing Service Utilization among Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Mixed Methods Inquiry
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Selected grants, fellowships & awards
- Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work
Student Award for Teaching [Nominated] - University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work
Enid Opal Cox Endowed Scholarship (2024) - University of Denver Office of Graduate Education
Inclusive Engagement Doctoral Fellowship (2023—2025) - University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work
Jeffrey M. Jenson Pre-Dissertation Assistantship (2023—2024)
- Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work
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Select presentations
- Ochs, A. (2025, January). Social network members and types of social support among young adults with HIV: A systematic search of the literature [Poster presentation]. Society for Social Work & Research, Annual Conference Seattle, WA.
- Ochs, A., Barman-Adhikari, A., Hsu, H. T., Petering, R., Shelton, J., Narendorf, S., Santa Maria, D., Bender, K., & Ferguson, K. (2025, January). Correlates and rates of HIV and STI testing service utilization among homeless youth across seven U.S. cities [Poster accepted for presentation]. Society for Social Work & Research, Annual Conference Seattle, WA.
- Gerke, D., Ochs, A., Mammadli, T., Downey, D., & Sabuncu, B. C. (2025, January). HIV testing frequency & predictors in a statewide sample of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex adults [Paper accepted for presentation]. Society for Social Work & Research, Annual Conference Seattle, WA.
- Ochs, A., Barman-Adhikari, A., Hsu, H. T., Petering, R., Shelton, J., Narendorf, S., Santa Maria, D., Bender, K., & Ferguson, K. (2024, May). Examining the utilization patterns of HIV and STI testing services among youth experiencing homelessness in seven urban centers of the United States [Paper presentation]. Society for Prevention Research, Annual Meeting Washington, D.C.
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Select publications
- Ochs, A., Barman-Adhikari, A., Hsu, H. T., Petering, R., Shelton, J., Narendorf, S., Santa Maria, D., Bender, K., & Ferguson, K. (2024). Examining the utilization patterns of HIV and STI testing services among youth experiencing homelessness in seven urban centers of the United States [Manuscript under review]. Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver.
- Gerke, D., Glotfelty, J., Freshman, M., Schlueter, J., Ochs, A., & Plax, K. (2022). Help is available: Supporting mental wellness through peer health navigation with young Black MSM with HIV. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 36(S1), S54—S64. https://doi:10.1089/apc.2022.0089
My Ngoc To
My Ngoc To (she/her) is a generation 1.5 Vietnamese American whose life path centers around creating avenues for individual and collective healing. A licensed social worker, My Ngoc received her MSW from Simmons University in Boston with a specialization in trauma work. As a critical mindfulness researcher and interventionist, My Ngoc conducts community-engaged research on how contemplative practices can heal historical and intergenerational healing among immigrant and refugee communities. My Ngoc parallels her outer work with inner work; she has been practicing Vipassana meditation for over seven years and has more than six years of teaching mindfulness meditations in clinical, university and community settings.
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Research Interests/Areas of Emphasis
- Historical trauma and healing
- Engaged mindfulness
- Immigrant and refugee mental health
- Mental health disparities
- Asian american identity
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Dissertation
- Healing Historical Trauma in Vietnamese Communities through Contemplative Intervention: A Pilot Study of the WEALTH Program
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Select Grants, Fellowships & Awards
- 2022 Mind & Life Varela Grant
- 2023—2025 University of Denver Graduate Education Doctoral Fellowship for Inclusive Engagement
- 2023—2025 University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work Walter F. LaMendola Pre-Dissertation Assistantship
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Select Presentations
- To., M. N. (2025, January 15—19). Healing historical trauma among Vietnamese Americans: Feasibility and acceptability of a pilot contemplative-based program [Oral paper accepted for presentation]. In C. Elsaesser (Chair), Leveraging inner transformation for social transformation: Examining the role of mindfulness in supporting health equity, Society for Social Work & Research 29th Annual Conference, Seattle, WA
- To., M. N. (2025, January 15—19). The role of contemplation in healing historical trauma: A scoping review [Poster accepted for presentation]. Society for Social Work & Research 29th Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.
- To., M. N., Sliva, S., Valdoninos, M. (2024, January 10—14). Impacts of an engaged mindfulness on women residents in a community correctional facility: A focus group narrative analysis [Oral paper presentation]. In D. Littman (Chair), Narrative analyses of justice processes, Society for Social Work & Research 28th Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
- To, M. N. (2023, January 12—16). Vietnamese American perspectives on Western secular mindfulness: A phenomenological study [Oral paper presentation]. Society for Social Work & Research 27th Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
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Select Publications
- Beltrán, R., Alvarez, A., To, M. N., Dunbar, A. Z., Pacheco, B. A., & Valdovinos, M. (in press). “I hope this brings comfort to others; it’s brought me comfort too”: Ceremony-based participatory practice research as Indigenist feminist methodology. Affilia.
- To, M. N., Nicotera, N., & Wang, K. (2024). To move or not to move: Factors of mind-body practice engagement in a population-based study [Manuscript in revision]. Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver.
- To, M. N., & Schuman-Olivier, Z. (2024). Integrating choice points into mindfulness training for the dissociative subtype of PTSD: A case report. Psychiatry Research Case Reports, 3(1), Article 100218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psycr.2024.100218
- To, M. N., Beltrán, R., Dunbar, A. Z., Valdovinos, M. G., Barillas Chón, D. W., Pacheco, B. A., Hunte, O., & Hulama, T. (2023). Like water, we re-member: A conceptual model of identity (re)formation through cultural reclamation for Indigenous peoples of Mexico in the United States. Geneaology, 7(4), Article 90. https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy7040090
